Proactive galleries help artists go places

KOLKATA: Artists are increasingly going for pan-Indian shows. This is being helped by galleries which are becoming more and more proactive in backing artists to bring off shows in different art hubs of the country. In recent times, among names whose shows have travelled in various centres countrywide are Bose Krishnamachari, Chintan Upadhyay, Jeram Patel and Manoj Kachangal.

���Earlier, too, most artists were keen to show their works in various locales in the country. This phenomenon has been on for quite a while now. But, it was an initiative which the artists individually undertook. In those days, even reputed artists like Arpana Caur, Jehangir Sabavala and Jeram Patel ventured into putting up shows in a spread of cities. Galleries which saw such independent shows are Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai, Delhi-based Lalit Kala Akademi, Triveni Kala Sangam and Kolkata���s Academy of Fine Arts and Birla Academy of Art and Culture,��� an art market source told ET.

The scenario has changed radically now. Galleries are putting thrust on extending support to artists and promoting them in a spectrum of cities. This exposes them to a pan-Indian viewership. The artists fraternity is largely based in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Baroda. But, they could be popular in other cities too. This is because of the shows they are participating in these places.

���Bose Krishnamachari and Chintan Upadhyay have been showing quite often at a pan-Indian level. A Bose show titled Lava, for instance, toured through a mix of cities. The exhibit kicked off in Mumbai and then moved to cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Baroda and Kochi. This underscores the urge of artists to be watched by a range of viewers and gauge their reactions,��� the source said.

Chintan has had a solo show in Jaipur. Sunil Gawde and photographer and artist Jyoti Bhatt have also travelled for shows in cities beyond their home locale. Jyoti Bhatt, for example, after showing in Baroda, his hometown, and Delhi, travelled to Kolkata for a solo of a photographic series. In the last year or so, Jeram Patel has exhibited in Delhi, Baroda and Mumbai and has also shown in Kolkata.

Delhi���s Manoj Kachangal, who has seen shows in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, lately figured in a solo at the Mon Art Gallerie in Kolkata. Incidentally, at the outset of his career, Kachangal had hired space at the Birla Academy in Kolkata to put up a show. While the Birla event had not experienced much response, his recent exhibit in the city has enjoyed a fair bit of commercial and critical success.

Mon Art and Art Konsult of Delhi are also partnering to unfurl a show of young Indian contemporary artists in Hong Kong. Thus, along with going pan-India, artists are also being positioned overseas by galleries. Interestingly, a New York-based artist like Niyeti Chadha travelled all the way to show at Art Konsult in Delhi and is now planning an exhibit in Mumbai. Thus, the cross-flow of artists across regions criss-crossing India and the global space is truly gaining pace.

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